University Directory

Adele Breen-Franklin, OTD, JD, OTR/L

Associate Professor Director of Doctoral Program

Adele Breen-Franklin OTD, JD, OTR/L

Department

Office

4500 Woodland Ave.

Phone

215-596-7346
Contact

Occupational Roles
Wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, friend, occupational therapist, educator, lifelong learner, avid reader, avid walker and biker, travel enthusiast, broadway and movie lover, and cat enthusiast.

Occupational History
Breen-Franklin continually strives to balance her different occupational roles. She is married to Ken and the mother of Nate (a robotics enthusiast) and Aaron (the thespian). When she is not home helping the men in her life strive to meet their occupational needs, she enjoys exercising (especially walking and biking) and reading. She likes to travel whenever she can and admits that she has not traveled nearly as much as she would like! Breen-Franklin and her family love to attend Broadway shows and see movies.

Breen-Franklin’s occupational history can best be described as a journey. Shortly after she graduated college, she worked in radio and television in New York City. She then decided to attend law school. After clerking for a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, she worked as a litigation associate and in immigration law for a non-profit organization. Not satisfied in her career choice, she returned to school to become an occupational therapist. She began her career in academia at Philadelphia University, where she was the coordinator of the Philadelphia Inmate Services and Healthcare Program and a visiting assistant professor. She was an assistant professor in the Harcum OTA program, and was an adjunct instructor in the University of Sciences OT Department, during the 2013-2014 academic year. It was through her work in academia that she discovered her passion for teaching and working with students. She enjoys teaching hands-on, interactive courses, as well as courses that introduce occupational therapy in the community. Her teaching duties include the courses Psychosocial Issues, Therapeutic Groups, and the Fieldwork If: Program Development.

    • BA, Barnard College, Columbia University
    • JD, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
    • MS, Philadelphia University
    • OTD, Chatham University

  • Breen-Franklin began her career as an occupational therapist in an acute care setting and then pursued a career primarily in various pediatric settings, including early intervention, outpatient and school-based therapy. From March 2008-December 2009, she coordinated the Philadelphia Inmate Services and Healthcare program, in partnership with the Department of Occupational Therapy at Philadelphia University and The Philadelphia Prison System, where she helped develop and implement an occupational therapy program for female inmates with psychiatric disorders at Riverside Correctional Facility. She has worked at Overbrook School for the Blind, the Pennington School through the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, the Southeast Delco School District, and the Marple Newtown School District, where she has had the opportunity to perform in-service education to teachers and support staff.

  • Professional Publications

    Peer-Reviewed

    • Bonsaksen, T., & Breen-Franklin, A. (2022). "Intrinsic Relationships Between Learning Conceptions, Preferences for Teaching and Approaches to Studying Among Occupational Therapy Students in the United States." Occupational Therapy in Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2022.2025512
    • Breen-Franklin, A. & Atler, K. (2022) "Use of the Subject-Centered Integrated Learning Model and the Occupational Experience Profile to Promote Students' Connections Among Occupation, Self, and the Profession." Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. ahead-of-print, No. ahead of print.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. & Bonsaksen, T. (2021). Associations Between Study Approaches and Exam Grades Among Occupational Therapy Students in the United States." Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(1), 36-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJOT-09-2020-0013
    • Bonsaksen, T., & Breen-Franklin, A. (2020). "An Evaluation of the Factor Structure and Internal Consistency Of the ‘Conceptions of Learning’ and ‘Preferences of Teaching’ Measures in American Occupational Therapy Students." Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2020.040104
    • Recigno, T., Benham, S., & Breen-Franklin, A. (2020). "Exploration of Self-Perceived Leadership Practices of Entry-Level Doctoral Students During the Doctoral Capstone Experience." Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2020.040113
    • Bonsaksen, T. & Breen-Franklin A. (2019). "The Short ASSIST Scales: Measurement Properties in a Sample of Occupational Therapy Students in the USA." Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2019.030311.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2017). "Enabling Student Success for NBCOT: A Pilot Education Program." Occupational Therapy in Healthcare, 1(4) https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2017.1376766

    Book Reviews

    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2021). "Assessments in Occupational Therapy Mental Health: An Integrative Approach" (4th ed.), Occupational Therapy In Health Care, DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2021.2005856
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2020). "Book Review: Occupational Therapy in Community and Population Health" (3rd ed.). Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2020.1782306
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2018). "Book Review: Transitions Across the Lifespan: An Occupational Therapy Approach." Edited by M. L. Orentlicher, S. Schefkind, & R. W. Gibson. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 34(4), 405-407. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2018.1524734
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2018). "Book Review: The OTA’s Guide to Documentation: Writing SOAP Notes" (4th Edition). Occupational Therapy in Health Care, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07380577.2017.1421801

    Peer-Reviewed Abstract

    • San, S., & Breen-Franklin, A. (2019, August). "Abstract - Experience of LGBT College Students: Identity, Health and Participation." American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(4_Supplement_1):7311505116. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO3011

    National Presentations

    • Hutson, C. & Breen-Franklin, A. (2021, October). Evaluating Graduate Level Students’ Understanding of the Nature of Occupations Follow Participation in an Arts and Humanities Activity." Poster presentation presented virtually for the 2021 American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit, St. Louis, M.O. and accepted (in person/virtually) at the 2022 American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference, San Antonio Texas.
    • Recigno, T., Benham, S, & Breen-Franklin, A. (2021, October). "Exploration of Student Leadership Growth During the Doctoral Capstone Experience" Poster presentation presented virtually for the annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, St. Louis, M.O.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2020, October). "Art and Occupation: Occupational Therapy Students Learn the Value of Occupation Through Observing a Work of Art." Accepted poster presentation for the annual conference of the Society of the Study of Occupation: USA (SSO: USA) Tampa, F.L. (Conference cancelled; poster presentation deferred to 2021 conference)
    • Recigno, T., Benham, S, & Breen-Franklin, A. (2020, March). "Exploration of Student Leadership Growth During the Doctoral Capstone Experience." Poster presentation accepted for the annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Boston, M.A. (Conference cancelled due to Covid-19)
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (2020, March). "Art & Occupation: OT Students Learn the Significance of Occupation Through Observing a Work of Art." Poster presentation accepted for the annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Boston, M.A. (Conference cancelled due to Covid-19)
    • Hadley, D., Miller, R. K., Packel, L., Bradway, C., Breen-Franklin, A., Seman, J., Kellar, B., Zvi Gellis, Z., Striem, J., Hayden, T., Forciea, M., Walke, L., Poon, C., Kim, E., Johnson, J. (2019, October). "Ready Set Go! Facilitator Training Pointers to Train Facilitators for IPE Experiences." Collaborating Across Borders Interprofessional Education Conf ference, Indianapolis, I.N.
    • San, S. & Breen-Franklin, A. (2019, April). "Experiences of LGBT College Students: Identity, Health, and Participation." Poster presentation for the annual conference of America Occupational Therapy Association, New Orleans, L.A.

    International Presentations

    • Hutson, C. & Breen-Franklin, A. (2022, August). "Evaluating Graduate Level Students’ Understanding of the Nature of Occupations Follow Participation in an Arts and Humanities Activity." Poster accepted for the 18th World Federation of Occupational Therapy, Paris, France.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. & Atler, K. (2022, August). "Learning Through Doing: Understanding One’s Own Occupations to Promote Occupational Therapy Practice." Poster accepted for the 18th World Federation of Occupational Therapy, Paris, France.
    • Hutson, C. & Breen-Franklin, A. (2021, October). "Evaluating Graduate Level Students’ Understanding of the Nature of Occupations Follow Participation in an Arts and Humanities Activity." Poster presentation for the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) 2021 Virtual Conference from Perth, Australia.
    • Breen-Franklin, A., Walsh, W., & San, S. (2018, May). "Generation 2 Generation: Mutual Learning Outcomes Between Occupational Therapy Students and Older Adults." Poster presentation for the 17th World Federation of Occupational Therapy, Cape Town, South Africa.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. & Salls, J. (2018, May). "Voices of Mothers with Disabilities in Two Distinct Communities: OT Support and Social Groups." Poster presentation for the 17th World Federation of Occupational Therapy, Cape Town, South Africa.
    • Kramer, P., Breen-Franklin, A., & Rhett-Davis, T. (2018, May). "Using Integrated Learning to Promote an Understanding of Mental and Physical Health in Occupational Therapy." Poster presentation accepted for the 17th World Federation of Occupational Therapy, Cape Town, South Africa.

    Workshops & Webinars

    • Breen-Franklin, A. & Maher, C. (November 2021). "Breakfast with the Scholar." Monmonmouth University, Department of Occupational Therapy.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. (March 2020). "Self-Care for Parents and Caregivers." ASCEND Webinar.
    • Breen-Franklin, A. & Packel, L. (2017, January). "Screening for Falls: OT and PT and Education." University of Pennsylvania Geriatric Education Center.
    • Rentz, R. & Breen-Franklin, A. (2017, July). "Get Down, Get Funky, & Get Regulated: The Zones of Regulation." Workshop presented for the Marple-Newtown School District, Broomall, P.A.